The Federal Government has revoked 1,263 mineral licences after holders failed to pay statutory annual service fees, Lens News confirmed on Sunday.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, the licences cut across 584 exploration licences, 470 small-scale mining leases, 144 quarry licences, and 65 mining leases. They have been removed from the official Electronic Mining Cadastral System portal of the Nigerian Mining Cadastral Office.
Minister of Solid Minerals, Dele Alake, explained that the step was necessary to rid the sector of speculators and non-performing operators. “Payment of annual service fees is the minimum commitment expected from any genuine investor. Those who fail to meet it are unserious,” he said.
The Ministry also stressed that the revocation does not erase the debts owed by defaulters. Their names, Lens News gathered, will be forwarded to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for enforcement.
MCO Director-General, Simon Nkom, disclosed that a total of 1,957 licence holders were flagged as defaulters when the government gazetted its intention to revoke on June 19, 2025, with a 30-day deadline. Many failed to comply or provided incomplete reconciliation.
So far, under the Tinubu administration, 3,794 mineral titles have been revoked—619 over unpaid fees and 912 due to dormancy. Authorities insist the clean-up will free up space for serious investors to contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s mining-driven diversification agenda.
